When I took shelter from the first major snow storm to hit Chicago in 2012 at the Red Line Jackson stop, I thought I was only going to get temporary warmth. Much to my surprise, and at the risk of sounding supremely shmaltzy, I heard the heart-warming singing of Ron Christian and "The Real Connection".
Even with the first few notes I was immediately captivated. Is that a recording? Since when was there music at the L stops? I walked around the corner and saw three men singing heavenly harmonies that were nothing short of jaw-dropping. Silky smooth, pure and soulful. I overheard one lady say, "Those are the best harmonies I ever heard." I knew this was something special, something that I felt privileged to be hearing. Everyone on the platform just stopped to listen; no one pretending to be messing with their iPhone, or trying to look occupied so as not to engage.
They finished a song which I'd never heard titled "It's Alright", and it couldn't have been a better song to have heard today. Nothing could have made me feel 100% better than that exact song sung by Ron and company. This will be my go-to feel-good music from now until eternity.
This is how good their music made me feel- I came back to the Jackson stop an hour later just to go back and talk to them! I was lucky enough to meet them, and I would've been kicking myself if I hadn't gotten that chance. I bought their CD and it was the best $5 I've spent since I got here. There's no one place, restaurant or group that I would be more honored to write my first Yelp review about, and no one deserves it more than Ron and "The Real Connection." read more
